SurajKund Mela, Haryana (Delhi), India, Feb 2009

The Surajkund Crafts Mela 2009 began on 1st Feb 2009. The 23rd annual event was inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil.
Surajkund which is located in Haryana is just an hour's drive from New Delhi. Surajkund comes alive for two weeks with the rhythm and beats of folk dances, lots of shopping opportunity and a riot of colors each year in early Feb. This year the Surajkund Mela was open from February 1-15 and the theme state was Madhya Pradesh which is located in the heart of India. Artists from MP & other states displayed their prowess in folk painting, batik & leather craft, wooden laquarware, Thewa art and all-time favourites like Chanderi and Maheshwari sarees.

The annual Surajkund festival is widely known to showcase the finest handlooms, handicrafts, authentic fragrances & flavours of rich Indian cuisines. Its large open space food court is a great place to try different foods and hang out with friends and family. As North India's winter turns briefly into spring, a caravan of 400 National and State awardee craftpersons from every corner of India wind their way to Surajkund. This year more than 50 craftpersons from SAARC Nations, Thailand and Egypt participated in the Surajkund Crafts Mela. At Surajkund Mela, the artisans demonstrate their skills as well as sell their creations crafted by their delicate hands into the most beautiful pieces of work. All day, at the Chaupal & later at Natyashala, various dance troupes perform to enthralled audiences.

The Surajkund Mela is organized by Haryana Tourism and is held near Faridabad (outskirts of New Delhi). The handicrafts displayed and sold include products of leather, brass & bell metal, cane & bamboo, ceramic, clay dolls, jute, masks & puppets, sandalwood carving, artistic weaving, prints & paintings, needlwork and embroidery etc. This year there was quite a bit of security. Visitors who payed Rs. 50 as an entrance ticket enjoyed savouring cuisine of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal, and Gujarat apart from Egypt, Chinese, and Thai cuisine.

Dancers from Dayal Sangeet Academy, Rasulgarh, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa. This girls only group of artist performed the Odissi Classical dance and Sambalpuri Folk dance at the Surajkund Crafts Mela 2009, Haryana, North India.